Patents by Inventor Thorsten Godau

Thorsten Godau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10394211
    Abstract: An electronic safety switching device comprising at least a first and a second signal processing channel to which input signals may be supplied for signal processing. The first and second signal processing channels provide processed output signals, wherein the first and the second signal processing channels process the supplied input signals redundantly with respect to one other. The first and the second signal processing channels are each formed as integrated circuits, wherein the first signal processing channel is arranged monolithically on a first semiconductor substrate, and the second signal processing channel is arranged monolithically on a second semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, the first and the second semiconductor substrates are combined into a stack to form a one-piece electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Godau, Norbert Froehlich, Matthias Holzaepfel, Hans Schwenkel
  • Publication number: 20170315530
    Abstract: An electronic safety switching device comprising at least a first and a second signal processing channel to which input signals may be supplied for signal processing. The first and second signal processing channels provide processed output signals, wherein the first and the second signal processing channels process the supplied input signals redundantly with respect to one other. The first and the second signal processing channels are each formed as integrated circuits, wherein the first signal processing channel is arranged monolithically on a first semiconductor substrate, and the second signal processing channel is arranged monolithically on a second semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, the first and the second semiconductor substrates are combined into a stack to form a one-piece electronic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Thorsten GODAU, Norbert FROEHLICH, Matthias HOLZAEPFEL, Hans SCHWENKEL
  • Patent number: 9715474
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing display elements of a plurality of subscribers of a distributed, bus-based control system is proposed. The subscribers comprise a message transmitter and a plurality of message receivers. The message receivers each comprise a respective display element, which can be toggled between a switched-on state and a switched-off state, and a control unit for producing a control signal for toggling the display element from one state to the other. The message transmitter sends a respective current bus message via the bus in defined recurring bus message time intervals. The respective bus message comprises a bus message counter that has a respective value from a defined value range. The counter value is changed in a predefined manner each time when a current bus message is sent. The message receivers receive the respective bus messages via the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Godau, Christian Adams, Reinhard Sperrer, Dietmar Seizinger
  • Patent number: 9454140
    Abstract: A control apparatus has at least one module including first, second and third module parts. The first and second module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a first combined arrangement. The first and third module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a second combined arrangement. The first module part comprises a securing element with an engagement section moveable between a first position, wherein the first and second module part are secured together, and a second position wherein the first and second module parts can be detached from one another. The securing element includes an actuation section. In the first position, the actuation section is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region. The third module part has a blocking section, which, in the second combined arrangement, occupies at least partially the second spatial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Godau, Markus Cech, Winfried Gruber, Andreas Veit
  • Patent number: 9276762
    Abstract: A bus-based control system comprises a plurality of bus subscribers which are connected to one another by means of a communication medium. The bus subscribers are assigned logical subscriber addresses. Next, the assigned subscriber addresses are verified. For this purpose, the bus subscribers use a defined mathematical operation to calculate a common first check value which is compared with a second check value. The mathematical operation begins with a defined starting value and comprises a number of operation steps which use a number of defined operands. Each of the subscriber addresses to be verified forms a different operand, and each bus subscriber executes at least one operation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Godau, Michael Haerter, Dietmar Seizinger, Reiner Haueisen
  • Patent number: 9112318
    Abstract: A control apparatus has a module having first and second module parts, which can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a combined arrangement. The first and second module parts each comprise a housing having a boundary surface opposite one another in the combined arrangement that define a boundary plane. The first and second module parts are combined by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis arranged perpendicular to the boundary plane. One of the module parts has a number of contacts comprising a first electrical contact, and the other module part has a number of mating contacts comprising a first electrical mating contact. In the combined arrangement, each electrical contact makes contact with its corresponding mating contact for electrical connection between the first and second module parts. The contacts comprise conductor tracks on a nonconductive board such that a printed circuit board is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PILZ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Cech, Andreas Veit, Patrick Hewer, Thorsten Godau
  • Publication number: 20150134865
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing display elements of a plurality of subscribers of a distributed, bus-based control system is proposed. The subscribers comprise a message transmitter and a plurality of message receivers. The message receivers each comprise a respective display element, which can be toggled between a switched-on state and a switched-off state, and a control unit for producing a control signal for toggling the display element from one state to the other. The message transmitter sends a respective current bus message via the bus in defined recurring bus message time intervals. The respective bus message comprises a bus message counter that has a respective value from a defined value range. The counter value is changed in a predefined manner each time when a current bus message is sent. The message receivers receive the respective bus messages via the bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Thorsten GODAU, Christian ADAMS, Reinhard SPERRER, Dietmar SEIZINGER
  • Publication number: 20140194007
    Abstract: A control apparatus has a module having first and second module parts, which can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a combined arrangement. The first and second module parts each comprise a housing having a boundary surface opposite one another in the combined arrangement that define a boundary plane. The first and second module parts are combined by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis arranged perpendicular to the boundary plane. One of the module parts has a number of contacts comprising a first electrical contact, and the other module part has a number of mating contacts comprising a first electrical mating contact. In the combined arrangement, each electrical contact makes contact with its corresponding mating contact for electrical connection between the first and second module parts. The contacts comprise conductor tracks on a nonconductive board such that a printed circuit board is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Markus CECH, Andreas VEIT, Patrick HEWER, Thorsten GODAU
  • Publication number: 20140156029
    Abstract: A control apparatus has at least one module including first, second and third module parts. The first and second module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a first combined arrangement. The first and third module parts can be mechanically and electrically combined to form a second combined arrangement. The first module part comprises a securing element with an engagement section moveable between a first position, wherein the first and second module part are secured together, and a second position wherein the first and second module parts can be detached from one another. The securing element includes an actuation section. In the first position, the actuation section is located in a first spatial region and, in the second position, is located in a second spatial region. The third module part has a blocking section, which, in the second combined arrangement, occupies at least partially the second spatial region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Thorsten GODAU, Markus CECH, Winfried GRUBER, Andreas VEIT
  • Patent number: 8232929
    Abstract: A microwave antenna for wireless interconnection of automation devices has a first printed circuit board, on which a first conductor loop is arranged as a printed conductor track. A second printed circuit board having a second conductor loop in the form of a printed conductor track is arranged transversely with respect to the first printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board is attached to the first printed circuit board. The conductor loops are connected to a common feed connection. A bypass line connects one end of each the first and the second conductor loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alois Ineichen, Thorsten Godau
  • Patent number: 8160120
    Abstract: A control unit sends a plurality of request messages to the I/O units. The I/O units send a plurality of response messages to the control unit. The request messages and response messages are sent using radio-frequency signals. The I/O units expect to receive a request message within defined first time intervals, and the control unit expects to receive at least one response message within defined second time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units maintain a selected transmission frequency for as long as the request messages and response messages are received within the defined time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units change the transmission frequencies according to a defined pattern if no expected message is received within the defined time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alois Ineichen, Thorsten Godau, Daniel Bakovic
  • Publication number: 20110050402
    Abstract: An arrangement for wirelessly interconnecting devices of automation technology comprises a signal path for transmitting a high-frequency transmit signal which has a plurality of temporally successive signal packets. The arrangement has a first and a second antenna and an antenna switch which connects the signal path selectively to the first or to the second antenna. A control circuit is adapted to generate a low-frequency switching signal for the antenna switch from the successive signal packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Alois INEICHEN, Thorsten GODAU
  • Publication number: 20110043432
    Abstract: A microwave antenna for wireless interconnection of automation devices has a first printed circuit board, on which a first conductor loop is arranged as a printed conductor track. A second printed circuit board having a second conductor loop in the form of a printed conductor track is arranged transversely with respect to the first printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board is attached to the first printed circuit board. The conductor loops are connected to a common feed connection. A bypass line connects one end of each the first and the second conductor loops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Alois INEICHEN, Thorsten Godau
  • Publication number: 20110045857
    Abstract: A control unit sends a plurality of request messages to the I/O units. The I/O units send a plurality of response messages to the control unit. The request messages and response messages are sent using radio-frequency signals. The I/O units expect to receive a request message within defined first time intervals, and the control unit expects to receive at least one response message within defined second time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units maintain a selected transmission frequency for as long as the request messages and response messages are received within the defined time intervals. The control unit and the I/O units change the transmission frequencies according to a defined pattern if no expected message is received within the defined time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Alois INEICHEN, Thorsten GODAU, Daniel BAKOVIC